Robert Duncan McNeill Won’t Be Directing ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2
After playing Tom Paris for seven seasons on Star Trek: Voyager, Robert Duncan McNeill has spent his time primarily behind the camera. He has dozens of producing and directing credits to his name from the last two decades, including recently helming an episode of The Orville. In the latest installment of the official Star Trek site’s profiles of Trek actors-turned-directors, McNeill talks about his experiences directing for Voyager and Enterprise, but he also explains why he won’t be directing for the latest Star Trek show, or at least for now.
Hoping for opportunity to direct, applauds Discovery for seeking more diversity
When asked if he would be interested in directing for Star Trek: Discovery, McNeill revealed he had a meeting with a producer from the show to talk about exactly that:
I wanted to direct Discovery. I met with their producing director. I didn’t know the show that well, but I met with him on their last hiatus to talk about season two. I also produce now. So, I hire a lot of directors. The last few years, there’s been a seismic shift in terms of the priorities toward female and diverse directors. That reality now has meant that what used to be normal, which was a lot of white guys, to be quite honest, has changed. Some shows are mostly women directing. I think Jessica Jones, last year, had all female directors. Handmaid’s Tale. A woman may direct the next Star Trek movie. Most importantly, it’s a wonderful thing that’s happening. I’m proud that on other shows I’ve produced - The Gifted, The Arrangement, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce - I’ve brought in female directors. But, to answer your question, Discovery does a limited number of episodes and a priority there is to get female and diverse directors, so there are fewer opportunities for people like me, which is a great thing. But, yeah, if the opportunity arose to direct Discovery and I fit what they needed and it fit my schedule, I’d love to do it.
Source
Hoping for opportunity to direct, applauds Discovery for seeking more diversity
When asked if he would be interested in directing for Star Trek: Discovery, McNeill revealed he had a meeting with a producer from the show to talk about exactly that:
I wanted to direct Discovery. I met with their producing director. I didn’t know the show that well, but I met with him on their last hiatus to talk about season two. I also produce now. So, I hire a lot of directors. The last few years, there’s been a seismic shift in terms of the priorities toward female and diverse directors. That reality now has meant that what used to be normal, which was a lot of white guys, to be quite honest, has changed. Some shows are mostly women directing. I think Jessica Jones, last year, had all female directors. Handmaid’s Tale. A woman may direct the next Star Trek movie. Most importantly, it’s a wonderful thing that’s happening. I’m proud that on other shows I’ve produced - The Gifted, The Arrangement, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce - I’ve brought in female directors. But, to answer your question, Discovery does a limited number of episodes and a priority there is to get female and diverse directors, so there are fewer opportunities for people like me, which is a great thing. But, yeah, if the opportunity arose to direct Discovery and I fit what they needed and it fit my schedule, I’d love to do it.
Source